Hundreds in Kalamazoo gather to see President Barack Obama at Radisson

View full sizeShawano Cleary | Special to the Gazette A crowd cheers and waves to President Barack Obama as the Presidential motorcade drives down Water Street in downtown Kalamazoo, as President Obama makes his way from the Raddison Plaza Hotel to the Kalamazoo Central High School graduation commencement at Western Michigan University. KALAMAZOO — Hundreds of people lined up around the Radisson Plaza
Hotel and Suites in downtown Kalamazoo Monday afternoon hoping for the
chance to catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama.

Just before 5 p.m., the president’s motorcade turned off Michigan
Avenue onto Rose Street and the crowd assembled about a half-block
north of Water Street erupted with cheers and clapping.

It was a short-lived moment — two black Cadillac limousines quickly
turned east onto Water Street and disappeared beneath a large tent at
the back of the hotel.

Some of the observers waited an hour or more to see the motorcade.

“It’s so exciting,” said Rosie Fisher, of Kalamazoo.

“This is just Kalamazoo,” she said. “We’re honored that he chose to come here.”

Fisher, an Obama supporter, said there had been a buzz downtown all day and she was glad to be a part of it.

As the crowd waited a helicopter patrolled above the Radisson, making a
several-block circuit.

A few spectators took photos or video of what
appeared to be SWAT officers on the roof Kalamazoo Valley Community
College’s Anna Whitten Hall.